Recent news

4 results for Art Therapy

Currently, the majority of books lining the shelves of bookstores and supermarkets alike are adult or “mindful colouring”.

Colouring is often linked with our childhood, a happy memory from our past. However, recently mental health experts have been researching the effect colouring has on adults.

Psychologists have found that colouring (in or out of the lines) can help us unlock our creative potential. The act can relieve tension and anxiety, common feelings we all experience in our lives.

Psychologist, Antoni Martinez says, “I recommend colouring as a relaxation technique. We can use it to enter a more creative state. I recommend it in a quiet room, with relaxing music and let the colour flow.”

Colouring is a stress reliever. When we focus on colouring, we are no longer focusing on the situation that was causing us stress. The act of colouring brings out our imagination and memories of childhood – a period of time where we all experienced a lot less stress.

Colouring is considered therapeutic and can promote a positive mindset

Whether it is work related, problems with friends or general daily pressures, everyone experiences stress at some point in their life.

While stress is experienced all year round, the festive period can bring stress and anxiety to the front of our minds for all sorts of reasons. The pressure of Christmas dinner, how to pay for presents and spending a lot of time with the family…

While many therapies are effective, they are often used for the long-term. This week we focus on what techniques can be practised in your everyday life to prevent and reduce feelings of stress.

Breathe deep

Taking a moment to breathe deeply has been shown to lower the body’s cortisol levels, helping to reduce stress. Research suggests deep breaths can also lower blood pressure temporarily.

Light candles

Research suggests aromatherapy is effective in reducing stress. Certain aromas such as lavender continue to reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Drink tea and laugh

A study has found that black tea can lower cortisol levels and promote...

Enthusiasts of the arts have been promoting the benefits of creative and dance therapy for ageing patients for decades, now scientists are taking note and are researching these claims.

Shula Strassfeld regularly dances with her father who is 92, wheelchair bound and suffers from dementia. Shula puts on some music and moves her father’s chair around in time with the music. Even though he fails to remember the dance the following day, Shula says during the dance he is more alert, more active and that something in him changes after he dances.

Shula, 66, is a dancer by profession and a member of Dance Exchange, which is a Washington DC-based company that collaborates with independent health organisations to investigate the benefits of music and movement for the elderly.

Research into the connection between dance and cognitive ability suggests that dancing may benefit dementia sufferers as it has the ability to stimulate many functions of the...

The Duchess of Cambridge has become Royal Patron of The Art Room, a charity offering art as therapy to children and young people facing challenges.

The Art Room is an Oxford and London based charity that aims to help 5 – 16 year olds experiencing behavioural and emotional difficulties to build their self-confidence, self-esteem and independence.

Founder Juli Beattie, who wanted to create a caring and creative environment in which children could learn through art, set up the charity in Oxford in 2002.

Since then children who have either become disengaged from mainstream education, withdrawn or have been identified as needing time away from school have been visiting the centres with extremely positive results.

The students face a range of difficulties from autism right through to being the sole carer in their family, but whatever the situation The Art Room intends to provide respite.